Question

Are 8x^2y and -5yx^2 like terms? Explain.

Answer 1

Like terms must have the same variables and those variables must have the same powers.

$7a^2b^3$ and $9a^2b^3$ are like terms, because they both have $a^2$ and they both have $b^3$.

$7a^2b^3$ and $7a^3b^2$ are NOT like terms, because the powers no longer match.

In your example, do you have the same variables and do the variables have the same powers in both expressions?